There’s no denying we are in full-on fall mode.

The days are growing shorter, we can start making chili, and the stores are full of pumpkin everything, not to mention bags upon bags of Halloween candy. Whether you’re still mourning summer’s end, or you’re the type of person who’s already counting down the days until Christmas, there’s one thing about autumn that can’t be denied: the foods we cook in the fall make our homes smell absolutely amazing.

One of the best culinary delights of the season is the humble apple.

How to Make Apple Butter in a Slow Cooker

Cooking down apples into apple butter in the slow cooker makes so much sense. It’s more hands-off than making it on the stovetop. It also simmers all day-long, meaning that inviting apple aroma hangs around all day, too.

This All-Day Apple Butter recipe is super simple. Peel, core, and chop 5-6 pounds of apples and add them to a slow cooker with sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Cover and cook on high for an hour to get it going, then reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 9-11 hours. That’s a whole day of the kitchen smelling like heaven—no fancy candle required.

Once done, transfer the apple butter to individual containers and refrigerate or freeze. If you’d rather cook your apple butter on the stovetop, try this Supreme Apple Butter recipe that has a few more ingredients than the slow cooker version, including apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and apple brandy.

What Kinds of Apples to Use for Apple Butter

You can use a variety of apples in apple butter, and you can mix and match varieties all in one batch. Really, any apple variety you have on hand will work.

Apple butter is an ideal recipe to make after apple picking because no matter what type of apples you picked, they’ll work. And, if some of those apples are bruised or have other blemishes—just cut them out and chuck them in. Apple butter doesn’t mind imperfect apples. In fact, making the spread is a great way to avoid wasting apples that have been sitting in the fridge for a little while and have lost their crunch.

How to Use Apple Butter

Once you’ve made your apple butter, how will you use it? Here are a few ideas that go beyond topping toast with the spread.

• Spread it on Cheddar cheese.
• Make apple butter bars.
• Mix it with cream cheese for an easy apple butter cream cheese spread that’s great smeared on a bagel.
• Use it as a glaze for pork in this Apple Butter Pork Loin.
• Make Apple Butter Snickerdoodles.
• Ramp up the fall vibes with this Apple Butter Spice Cake.
• Turn it into a glaze for ham.
• Add a few tablespoons to overnight oats.

Once you make your first batch of apple butter and discover how much flavor it brings to so many dishes, we’re confident it won’t be your last batch. Plus you’ll want to fill your house with the aroma again while you’re at it.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/easiest-apple-recipe-whole-house-140000756.html